Imagine preparing thousands of annual returns and financial statements for clients—only to have regulators reject them due to simple tagging errors or misaligned taxonomy. For company secretaries, these headaches are all too familiar. But the game has changed. 

As of December 31, 2024, Malaysia had over 1.59 million registered companies and 9.34 million business entities listed with Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia (SSM). That same month, SSM officially launched the enhanced MBRS 2.0 reporting system, mandating submissions in structured XBRL format for corporate disclosure. 

For Company Secretaries, this is more than just compliance with regulations- it’s an opportunity to elevate your role. Automation takes repetitive, error-prone work off your plate, giving you more space to advise boards, guide strategic decisions, and strengthen corporate governance. The future of compliance isn’t manual- it’s automated, intelligent, and strategic. 

For decades, company secretarial firms have relied on manual workflows: 

• Data entry: Transferring figures manually from financial statements into Excel, Word, or PDF files. 

• Tagging: Manually mapping data to taxonomy codes—a tedious and error-prone process. 

• Late discovery of errors: Issues often found only after digital submission or during regulator review. 

• Time pressure: Back-and-forth with clients close to deadlines. 

• Risk exposure: Mistakes lead to rejections, fines, or reputational damage—all impacting liable Company Secretaries. 

In a world where precision counts, relying on these outdated systems is risky. The regulatory threshold has moved upward, and manual processes simply don’t cut it anymore. 

MBRS 2.0 reporting isn’t just an upgrade- it’s a paradigm shift: 

• Structured, XBRL-based submissions 

• Real-time validation to catch errors before filing 

• Integrated filing workflows that address annual returns, financial statements, exemptions, and correction requests 

• Built-in digital signatures and role-based access 

From June 1, 2025, SSM implemented Phase 3 of MBRS 2.0, marking a major step toward full digital submission of statutory documents under the Companies Act 2016. MBRS 2.0 reporting is mandatory for all 1.59 million registered companies, regardless of size, industry, or years in business. 

1. Compliance at Scale
Managing hundreds or thousands of filings manually is near impossible. Automation platforms let Company Secretaries process high-volume workloads confidently, without pushing boundaries on resources or quality.
2. Accuracy You Can Trust
MBRS 2.0’s built-in XBRL taxonomy and validation rules turn tagging into a science, not a guessing game. Automated tools ensure data is consistently mapped to the right taxonomy—and with real-time alerts to catch anomalies.
3. Time Savings = Strategic Value
What once took weeks now takes hours. Less time spent correcting paperwork means more time advising on governance, strategy, or directorship responsibilities. Automation gives you back valuable time.
4. Streamlined Client Service
Clients expect prompt, accurate filings. Automation allows faster delivery, fewer revisions, and a more transparent process—strengthening trust and enabling proactive advisory roles by Company Secretaries.
5. Future-Ready Compliance
SSM’s platform evolves alongside financial standards and regulations. Automation tools that auto-update to the latest taxonomy (e.g., IFRS 2022-based changes) future-proof your firm against compliance drift.

1. XBRL Mapping & Tagging Expertise
Mapping items to digital taxonomy is complex. Tools with AI-driven tagging (e.g., IRIS Instant) minimize manual mapping and drastically reduce errors. 
2. Gaps in Skills or Local Resources
Many firms lack in-house XBRL technical knowledge. SSM and MIA have provided training, but practical XBRL deployment still has a steep learning curve. 
3. Software Investment Costs
SMEs worry about investment costs for XBRL-ready software. But early investment pays dividends in error reduction, efficiency, and scalability. 
4. Maintaining Compliance Across Multiple Entities
Coordinate filings for dozens or even hundreds of entities? Automation systems with centralized dashboards make batch workflows, reminders, and status tracking possible. 

IRIS Instant is purpose-built for Company Secretaries in Malaysia managing MBRS 2.0 reporting. 

Key Features & Differentiators: 

• AI-powered XBRL tagging auto-maps financial data from source files with minimal manual work. 

• Embedded validation engine (same as MBRS mTool & mPortal) enforces SSM-grade compliance. 

• Multi-entity dashboard provides oversight for secretarial firms managing multiple clients. 

• Pre-submission checks catch issues early, dramatically reducing rejections and correction cycles. 

• Secure, cloud-based collaboration enables remote teamwork with role-based access. 

• Auto-updating taxonomy aligns with SSM’s latest changes, such as taxonomy built on IFRS 2022 & Companies Act updates  

Why It Matters: 

• Cut manual time by over 70% 

• Reduce rejections to near-zero 

• Scale seamlessly without new headcount 

Adopting automation isn’t just about compliance—it enables Company Secretaries to:

1. Enhance Governance: Full audit trails support stronger internal controls.
2. Provide Strategic Advice: Freed-up capacity empowers advisory roles.
3. Differentiate Your Services: Show clients you’re tech-savvy and proactive.
4. Boost Reputation: On-time, accurate filings enhance firm credibility.
5. Build Resilience: Scalable workflows prepare your firm for future regulatory demands.

Digital compliance positions Company Secretaries as strategic leaders—not administrative staff.

Non-digital filing isn’t an option. MBRS 2.0 is a compliance mandate– and an opportunity. 

Traditional workflows are slow, error-prone, and unsustainable. MBRS 2.0 reporting, powered by automation, offers speed, accuracy, and scalability. For Company Secretaries, it’s time to claim the future. 

Transform compliance into competitive advantage.